Official Milwaukee band saw parts

How to replace the drive belt in a Milwaukee band saw

• Unplug the band saw’s power cord from the wall outlet.
• Open the upper and lower cabinet doors. Rotate the blade’s quick-release lever to release the blade tension. Loosen the top and bottom mounting screws on the drive motor and pivot the motor inward to release the drive belt tension. Remove the drive belt from the motor pulley.
• Use snap ring pliers to remove the C-clip from the lower wheel shaft. Slide the lower wheel off its shaft and remove the drive belt. Position the drive belt on the lower wheel pulley and, while sliding the wheel onto the shaft, wrap the drive belt over the motor shaft. Reinstall the C-clip on the lower wheel shaft. Push the drive motor outward to apply tension to the drive belt and tighten the mounting screws on the drive motor.
• Reposition the blade on the upper and lower drive wheels. Rotate the blade quick release lever to apply blade tension. Close the cabinet doors. Restore power.

Tips for fixing your Milwakee band saw when it's not cutting straight

When the band saw cuts crooked, a dull blade, improper feeding, loose blade tension or not using a work piece guide could be the cause. Use the rip fence or miter gauge to guide the work piece uniformly through the cutting blade to make straight cuts.

Using too much force when feeding the work piece through the cutting area can cause the band saw blade to twist and cut the piece crookedly. Use light pressure when feeding the work piece through the cutting area to achieve a straight cut.

A dull blade will twist when cutting the work piece and cut the piece crookedly. You'll also need to push the work piece harder to move it through the cutting area when the blade is dull. If the blade twists and the work piece is harder to push through the cutting area, replace the blade.

Loose blade tension can also cause the blade to twist and veer off course when cutting the work piece. Check blade tension by pressing in on the side of the blade using a gloved finger. Tighten blade tension if you can easily push the blade in more than a 1/4-inch.

Tips for fixing your Milwakee band saw when it's not cutting straight

When the band saw cuts crooked, a dull blade, improper feeding, loose blade tension or not using a work piece guide could be the cause. Use the rip fence or miter gauge to guide the work piece uniformly through the cutting blade to make straight cuts.

Using too much force when feeding the work piece through the cutting area can cause the band saw blade to twist and cut the piece crookedly. Use light pressure when feeding the work piece through the cutting area to achieve a straight cut.

A dull blade will twist when cutting the work piece and cut the piece crookedly. You'll also need to push the work piece harder to move it through the cutting area when the blade is dull. If the blade twists and the work piece is harder to push through the cutting area, replace the blade.

Loose blade tension can also cause the blade to twist and veer off course when cutting the work piece. Check blade tension by pressing in on the side of the blade using a gloved finger. Tighten blade tension if you can easily push the blade in more than a 1/4-inch.